Episodes

  • AAA warns drivers to be careful leading up to "rutting season"

    AAA warns drivers to be careful leading up to "rutting season"
    Oct 15 2026
    New York's Class of 2026 had a higher mean SAT score than the national average and the state's highest participation rate since 2020, according to a Newsday analysis. Michael R. Ebert reports in NEWSDAY that data recently released by the College Board details how the more than 127,000 students who took the standardized exam in New York during the 2025-26 school year performed. Long Island-specific data was not available.New York’s test-takers achieved a mean SAT score of 1,053, up eight points from last year and outperforming the national mean for the fifth straight year. The national mean score for the Class of 2026 was 1,045.The last time that New York’s high schoolers underperformed when compared with the national mean score was in 2021. That year, students statewide had a mean score of 1,057, compared with the national mean score of 1,060, according to the College Board.New York’s mean score of 1,053 for 2026 was the highest among its SAT test-takers since 2022, while the percentage of students statewide in the highest-scoring subgroup was also the most since 2022.This year, 9% of students statewide had SAT scores between 1,400-1,600, equaling the national average. By comparison, New York’s percentage of students scoring 1,400-1,600 was 8% in 2024 and 2025, 7% for 2023, and 9% for 2022, according to the College Board.Statewide, high schoolers achieved higher scores on the SAT’s math portion this year with 11% of test-takers earning the highest scores of 700-800, while 9% of students achieved that mark in the test’s reading and writing portion. The 11% scoring at 700-800 in math was the state’s highest percentage since 2022, when that figure was also 11%, according to the College Board.A total of 127,180 high school seniors took the SAT in New York, representing 63% of all those eligible. That's the highest percentage since the Class of 2020, when 160,484, or 79%, of the state’s estimated population of high school graduates took the test, according to the College Board.The most popular intended major for New York’s SAT test-takers was business, followed by clinical sciences.***It's rutting season, and AAA Northeast is warning drivers to be careful out there — especially in rural Suffolk County.John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that the annual deer mating season is one of the most hazardous times for drivers in the Northeast. One east end town, Southold, leads New York State in deer-related crashes between 2021 and 2024, AAA said in a statement yesterday.The number of Long Island crashes involving deer rose 75% over eight years to the highest level on record, Newsday reported earlier this year. While most of the crashes occur in Suffolk County, Nassau County's North Shore communities have also seen an uptick.The AAA said more than 40% of all deer-strike incidents occurred between September and December, prime rutting — or, mating — season for wild hoofed animals: deer, elk and moose.Between 2021 and 2024 the AAA said the Town of Southold recorded 790 crashes involving deer strikes by drivers, while 599 were recorded in Town of Brookhaven and 526 were tallied in the Town of Southampton. The three towns were among the top 10 municipalities in the state for deer strikes in that time period, AAA said.Statistics also found more than 20% of all deer crashes occurred in November, with drivers almost 2½ times more likely to be involved in a deer-related crash in November than any other month.The peak risk period for deer strikes is early morning and late-afternoon / early-evening, AAA said.Peak crash time frames are between 6 and 10 a.m. and between 3 and 7 p.m.AAA Northeast senior manager for public affairs Robert Sinclair Jr. said the natural inclination of drivers confronted with a deer in the road was to take evasive action to avoid a crash.The advice of experts? Don't overreact."If you're in an area where deer are prevalent — wooded areas, areas where you know there's wildlife — watch the side of the road, be aware," Sinclair said. "Especially, at dawn and dusk. Especially, at dusk, which is prime time for deer. ... And the big thing is do not swerve. If you swerve, you hit a tree, you hit a pole, you hit a car — maybe you even have a head-on collision."Terrible as this sounds, Sinclair said: "Most times, it's better to just hit the deer."And, Sinclair said, don't brake hard, either. "You hit the brakes hard and it causes the front end of the car to dive. That can allow a deer to roll up onto your hood and through the windshield. And that can kill you."As he said: "The best advice is just slow down. Be aware. Pay attention."***Greenport’s 36th Annual Maritime Festival is ready to set sail this coming weekend, staying true to its commitment to highlighting the nautical heritage of this seaside community. The event kicks off with the Friday night Land & Sea Gala, this year being held in the American Legion Hall on Third Street — a change in venue from Mitchell Park due to ...
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    10 mins
  • NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation acquires nearly 750 acres of open space around former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant

    NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation acquires nearly 750 acres of open space around former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant
    Oct 16 2026
    The FBI and New York State Attorney General’s Office conducted interviews with Suffolk County Democratic Committee members and a former board of elections employee as they probe potential misconduct related to Chairman Rich Schaffer, three Democratic officials confirmed to Newsday.The full extent of the probe and whether either agency has launched an official investigation remains unclear. Attorney Mark Lesko, who represents Schaffer, said in an email to NEWSDAY that his client, who's also Babylon Town supervisor, has not been contacted by any law enforcement agency.Leigh-Ann Barde, chair of the Islip Town Democratic Committee, said she was interviewed jointly by two FBI agents and two investigators from the state attorney general's office on Sept. 18 and Sept. 22. The conversation centered on tactics to assist Schaffer's reelection and alleged offers of payments by Schaffer to committee members to ensure their attendance at the Sept. 22 organizational meeting, she told Newsday.Cameron Trent, who said he was fired from his position at the Suffolk County Board of Elections earlier this year for refusing to collect signatures to get more Schaffer-backed committee members, confirmed to Newsday he also spoke to FBI agents last month. Another Democratic Committee member who requested anonymity over fear of backlash also confirmed being interviewed by the FBI and attorney general's office in late September."I think the sense that I got was that they're looking at Rich Schaffer as a target and the operation more broadly," Trent said, adding he discussed with the federal agents how he was fired.Lesko denied any wrongdoing on Schaffer's part and said he is "the model of professionalism and ethics…We are confident in the facts and will not give these politically motivated allegations any credence.”Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that Schaffer retained the committee chair position at the biennial organizational meeting, securing about 57% of the vote to stave off the challenger, Kathryn Casey Quigley, the chair of the Southold Town Democratic Committee. The vote capped a contentious 10-month period where both sides sought to boost the ranks of the committee to gain backers for last month's election.Barde had been a strong supporter of Schaffer when Casey Quigley first launched her campaign. But she publicly supported Casey Quigley in a social media post the day before the organizational meeting, saying she could not “support anyone or anything that undermines the legitimacy and integrity of either the party or our democracy.”She called the backroom deals that ended Democratic county clerk candidate Anthony Portesy’s campaign “the tip of the iceberg.”“What has followed is offering money for votes and threats to people’s livelihood, including that of my own family,” she wrote a day before the vote.Her husband, Waquel Romain, works for the Suffolk County Board of Elections.***A high-profile sex trafficking case will conclude later this month with the sentencing of three brothers, two of whom were luxury real estate brokers whose business included millions of dollars of Hamptons sales and rentals.In March, a Manhattan federal court jury found Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander guilty of multiple federal sex offenses, including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. The allegations include rapes and assaults that prosecutors say occurred on the South Fork.Joseph P. Shaw reports on 27east.com that Tal Alexander, 40, and Oren Alexander, 39, left Douglas Elliman in 2022 to join a team that founded the real estate firm Official, which included a presence on the South Fork, according to the website The Real Deal. Alon Alexander, who is 39 and Oren’s twin, worked in the family’s private security business.Eleven victims testified at the Manhattan trial, and U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said they accused the three brothers of “horrific acts.”“The Alexander brothers conspired to repeatedly lure, drug and rape young women. These are chilling, reprehensible and unacceptable acts,” Clayton said in a statement after their conviction. “We commend the victims for their courage in coming forward and testifying at the trial. They bravely overcame the pain of reliving the abuses inflicted upon them and, as a result, prevented others from becoming victims.”The New York Post said last week that prosecutors, in a court filing, argued for life sentences for all three brothers at sentencing, slated for October 27, pointing out that more than 70 women had reported being sexually assaulted by the brothers at various locations including incidents in Southampton and East Hampton towns.The Post said the monthlong trial included testimony of various assaults in New York City and on the South Fork between 2008 and 2021, most involving drugging women the brothers met “on dating apps and at glitzy parties.” Other incidents occurred in Aspen, Colorado, and on a Caribbean cruise, the newspaper said.They ultimately ...
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    10 mins
  • NYC enacts one-year moratorium on student-facing AI

    NYC enacts one-year moratorium on student-facing AI
    Sep 24 2026
    Citing the need to "protect the human connection, curiosity and creativity" in learning, New York City officials announced earlier this month that the nation's largest school system would enact a one-year moratorium on "student-facing" generative artificial intelligence from preschool through eighth grade. Companion chatbots would be prohibited across all grades and screen time limits would be imposed for students in eighth grade and below.NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul has also signaled interest in regulating how AI is used in the classroom.But Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that on Long Island, educators say AI is here to stay, and they must adapt. For some districts, that has meant incorporating AI through means like chatbots that can offer personalized lessons while others are taking a more cautious approach, studying how best to use it in the classroom.Kenneth Bossert, president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, told NEWSDAY that each district is taking the approach that makes the most sense for its staff and students. "There are certainly districts that are at a different comfort level with how they've incorporated AI and AI platforms," he said. "Some [are] more forward-facing, directly working with students. Others [are] limiting AI resources to that used by administration and the teachers. It's definitely a time of careful investigation."Bossert, who is also the Great Neck schools superintendent, said what many districts have in common is that they restrict AI for primary school learners."As it becomes more age- and developmentally-appropriate, there's a greater exploration and greater application," he said.The Brookings Institution found in a January report that while AI could provide benefits such as saving teachers time when it came to lesson planning, grading and assessing students, it could also threaten students' safety, undermine their cognitive and emotional development and degrade trust in education. In addition to outlining the potential dangers and benefits of AI, the authors of the Brookings study recommended developing regulations to protect students' data and emotional well-being and fostering AI literacy among teachers and families.***Mostly sunny skies and breezy conditions today across Long Island will give way to thickening clouds by the evening and likely showers, along with the potential for flooding and high winds, the result of a nor'easter forming off the Atlantic coast.Forecasters said offshore winds could hit 60 mph by the weekend, bringing the potential for widespread moderate coastal flooding for southern Nassau during times of high tide Friday evening and Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said.Wind gusts will increase as the weekend gets closer, with a predicted 39 mph for Montauk today and 47 mph Friday. Offshore wind gusts will reach as high as 60 mph tomorrow.The National Weather Service has issued gale warnings on ocean waters out to more than 20 miles off the coast through Friday. Gale watches on eastern Long Island Sound and the South Shore bays were converted to gale warnings for Friday.Newsday meteorologist Geoff Bansen said while it is still too early to confirm an official weather model, the nor'easter looks like it will remain offshore with its center coming about as close as Block Island. Ocean waves could reach as high as between 7 and 10 feet, the service said.The Cross Sound Ferry canceled all trips between Orient and New London, Connecticut, due to "impending weather and sea conditions," the operator said on its website. ***A free marine wildlife conservation and safety event will be held Sunday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sag Harbor Fire Department, 1357 Brick Kiln Road in Sag Harbor.The event is being organized by Quincy Renaud, a Life Scout with Sag Harbor Troop 455, as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project, in partnership with Ellie Sywak, education and outreach coordinator at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.The event will teach community members and recreational boaters how to identify marine wildlife in distress, what to do when an animal is found and whom to contact for assistance. Attendees also can learn about sea turtle rehabilitation, receive a free boat sticker and participate in a child-friendly activity.Scouts from Troop 455, ages 11 to 17, will assist with the event.The event coincides with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society’s 10th anniversary of rehabilitating sea turtles and responding to stranded seals and whales. It also comes following the signing of New York’s Whale Awareness Act, which adds educational guidelines for boater safety courses aimed at preventing vessel strikes.That’s Saturday, October 4 at 11 a.m. at the Sag Harbor Fire House on Brick Kiln Road.***Water quality in Long Island Sound appears to be improving, according to testing by the nonprofit Save the Sound, but many bays showed poor levels of oxygen needed to sustain marine life. The organization ...
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    10 mins
  • Southampton Village issed state of emergency following Saturday thunderstorms

    Southampton Village issed state of emergency following Saturday thunderstorms
    Jul 7 2026
    Southampton Village has issued a state of emergency in response to Saturday night’s thunderstorm that will remain in effect through Friday, July 10, at 9 a.m.A brush amnesty will be extended to village residents until Friday to allow for residents to put storm debris out for pickup as part of cleanup efforts from the storm.Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine shared on Sunday afternoon that a local state of emergency was declared on Saturday night in response to the thunderstorm. The state of emergency will last 30 days in Suffolk County.PSEG Long Island said that it had restored power to over 23,600 customers who were affected by the semi quincentennial storm, which brought wind gusts as high as 84 mph, hail and heavy rain to Suffolk County. The update noted that eastern Suffolk County was the hardest hit.The Town of Southampton has issued a brush amnesty to residents until tomorrow - Wednesday, July 8 - to allow residents to dispose of storm debris to transfer stations as part of cleanup efforts from the storm, according to Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara.Meanwhile, Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the Alive on 25 Summer Block Party event scheduled for Thursday, July 9 has been postponed, Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin announced yesterday.The decision to postpone the event came in consultation with event organizer Diane Tucci of Main Street Agency, the Town Board and Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost, due to the widespread impacts of the July 4 storm and continuing rain, according to a press release issued by Halpin’s office last night.The postponement will give residents, vendors, and town staff extra time to handle storm recovery and allow utility crews to restore power to all residents.***A 6-year-old girl died Saturday morning of a presumed drowning after police said she fell into the waters of a fast-moving creek in Tuckahoe while trying to retrieve a lost shoe and was swept into the Great Peconic Bay.John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that Southampton Town police said officers, including from the marine patrol, as well as Southampton firefighters and volunteer ambulance crews responded to a 911 call received at 8:09 a.m. Saturday about a possible drowning off a beach on Sebonac Inlet Road. Officers initiated CPR on the girl, identified as Kiara Paolasin, of Brooklyn, after she was pulled from the water unresponsive by a kayaker, police said.Despite those efforts, police said Kiara was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.Police said an initial investigation indicates the girl was at the beach with family members to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. In an account based on witness information, police said, "The child went into the water to retrieve footwear that was floating away and slipped and got pulled into the current."According to police, a 16-year-old family member attempted to reach the girl, but was unable to do so due to the swift current.Police said family members were able to flag a kayaker in the area, who then paddled to the unresponsive girl and pulled her from the water.The investigation is ongoing with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the cause of death. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call them at 631-702-2239 or 631-728-3454.Information can also be forwarded using the police email tip-line at crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.***As college application season approaches, the Amagansett Library is launching a new program to help local high school students navigate one of the most challenging parts of the admissions process: the personal essay.The library will offer free, individualized one-on-one college essay support from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, July 17; Friday, August 21; and Saturday, September 19. Students may reserve a time slot through the library’s website or simply drop in during program hours, as appointments are not required.Designed to meet students wherever they are in the writing process, the sessions will provide personalized guidance on every stage of the college essay, from brainstorming topics and organizing ideas to drafting, revising, editing and final proofreading.The volunteer-led program is intended to help students develop essays that authentically reflect their experiences while strengthening their writing and storytelling skills.The organizers hope the free service will make the college application process less intimidating while giving students the confidence to tell their unique stories in their own voices.By offering individualized assistance at no cost, the library aims to provide an accessible resource for students and families during a pivotal stage in the college admissions journey.***U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer recently announced a request for $273.5 million in funding for research of ticks and tickborne diseases in the 2027 federal budget. The initiative would add $90...
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    10 mins